Newcastle United are reportedly looking to steal a march on Manchester United for Kim Min-jae, who has a release clause worth £42 million.
According to a report by The Sun, Kim Min-jae is the subject of interest from Newcastle United. And the Magpies are ready to hijack Manchester United’s move for the Napoli defender. The South Korean international has a release clause worth £42 million in his deal with the Partenopei.
Kim Min-jae has had a transformational effect on Napoli. While the Italian giants were already closing in on becoming the top dog in Serie A, the 26-year-old provided the nudge to win the Scudetto after a long gap. In addition, he has also been a pivotal figure for his national side.
The South Korean international turned out 45 times across all competitions for Napoli, chipping in with two goals and two assists. But Kim has a release clause worth £42 million in his contract. And the presence of such a system has captured the attention of several high-profile clubs, including Manchester United and Newcastle United.
Manchester United have been the most highly-interested club pursuing Kim Min-jae this summer. And it is hardly surprising why the Red Devils are keen on signing the defender. After all, Harry Maguire faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford. And he will likely leave Manchester United to resurrect his stuttering career.
Kim Min-jae has thus emerged as a viable target, with Manchester United ready to offer him a lucrative contract. And the Red Devils are in a strong position to afford to pay £42 million to secure his services. But Newcastle United are also well off and should be ready to trigger his release clause.
Like Manchester United, the Magpies are keen on signing the 26-year-old. And they are ready to steal a march on the Red Devils in the summer transfer window. So with Fabian Schar on the wrong side of 30, Kim is an option worth considering for Newcastle United.
It will be interesting to see how Manchester United will respond to Newcastle’s eagerness to land Kim. With widespread reports positioning the Red Devils as the front-runners, the ball is in their court. And a summer move to Old Trafford seems likely for the South Korean international.
